PRO BASKETBALL

PRO BASKETBALL; Cook, St. John's Guard, To Enter N.B.A. Draft

By EDWARD WONG

Published: May 9, 2001

Omar Cook, the freshman point guard at St. John's who was one of college basketball's leading playmakers last season, is entering the N.B.A. draft, college athletic officials said yesterday.

Cook was the best player on the St. John's team that had a 14-15 season and failed to make the N.C.A.A. tournament. This is the third year in a row that the school has lost a top player to the draft with college eligibility remaining. Last year, Erick Barkley went to the Portland Trail Blazers. In 1999, Ron Artest was drafted 16th over all by the Chicago Bulls, both leaving after two seasons.

Cook's move puts an end to months of speculation on whether he would enter the draft or stay in college. Cook, 19, said he does not plan to sign now with an agent, allowing him to keep his college eligibility. He can return to St. John's if he changes his mind at least a week before the June 27 draft.

If Cook does not return, it will make it that much harder for the Red Storm to bounce back from its disappointing season. It was the first losing season for Coach Mike Jarvis. Especially painful was St. John's 78-66 loss to Seton Hall in March during the first round of the Big East Conference tournament.

Jarvis has often said that he thinks Cook is not ready to play in the N.B.A. But he was more reserved with his comments yesterday.

''We hope Omar can fulfill his lifelong dream to play in the N.B.A. either this year or in the future,'' Jarvis said in a statement. ''He's just completed his final exams and has fulfilled his academic requirements for this year. In the event he changes his mind or feels he'd be best served to return to school, we will keep his scholarship open for him.''

Cook declined yesterday to comment. The university confirmed his decision after The Daily News reported yesterday that Cook said he would enter the draft to help provide for his family. Cook's great-aunt died during surgery on Monday night, his mother, Laverne Cook, said, but it was unclear whether that had affected his decision.

Mrs. Cook said she was not sure why her son chose to enter the draft.

Neither the N.B.A. nor St. John's would say exactly when Cook would enter his name for the draft. The deadline is this Sunday.

Cook was the Red Storm's top scorer last season, averaging 15.3 points a game. He had 8.7 assists a game and ended the season with 252 assists, the second-highest total in the N.C.A.A. In March, a committee of coaches unanimously selected Cook to the Big East's all-rookie team.

He will most likely be drafted late in the first round or in the second round. Players drafted in the first round get guaranteed three-year contracts.

How much playing time Cook will get with the team that drafts him is a big question. Artest, a forward, has a more solid, mature build than Cook, and has seen significant playing time with the Bulls. He played in 76 games this season and averaged 11.9 points a game.

But Barkley, who like Cook was a point guard at St. John's, has spent much of his time with the Blazers sitting on the bench. He played in eight games this season and averaged 2.4 points a game.

Jarvis said recent recruiting successes should help bolster the Red Storm in the absence of Cook. Marcus Hatten, a guard from Tallahassee Community College in Florida, is joining the team, as is Tristan Smith, a point guard from Amityville High School on Long Island.

''Without having Omar,'' Jarvis said, ''we couldn't be in a better position.''